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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to create innovative AI-driven digital solutions for enhancing customer experiences.
- Company: Join Virgin Atlantic Airways, a company on a mission to become the most loved travel brand.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid remote work, competitive salary, and a culture that celebrates diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of AI innovation, driving impactful projects in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in software engineering, proficiency in Python/JavaScript, and experience with AI technologies required.
- Other info: We value individuality and support diverse backgrounds; everyone is encouraged to apply.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 84000 £ per year.
Hours: Full time, 37.5 per week, Monday – Friday.
Location: Hybrid remote working, with 3 days a week in our VHQ, Crawley based on operational requirements.
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: 18th April 2025
In a nutshell
At Virgin Atlantic Airways, we believe that everyone can take on the world, and it’s our vision to become the most loved travel company. As we embark on this next exciting stage of our journey, we’re harnessing our spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation to challenge the status quo. As the Senior Manager of Software Engineering - AI, you will lead a team of AI software developers to design, develop, and deliver cutting-edge AI-driven digital solutions. Your focus will be on building scalable, innovative products that leverage Generative AI to enhance customer experiences and deliver significant business value. With demonstrable technical software engineering or development management experience, you will oversee complex AI projects, guiding them from concept to implementation. Proficiency in Python and JavaScript, along with experience in building prototypes on LLM API platforms like OpenAI, Databricks, and Anthropic, will be crucial to your success in this role. In addition to leading teams, you will work closely with stakeholders across the organisation to drive AI initiatives that align with Virgin Atlantic's customer experience goals. You’ll proactively identify opportunities to maximise business value by leveraging Generative AI, and you’ll own problems end-to-end, ensuring both your team and our customers succeed. Thriving in dynamic and ambiguous environments, you’ll demonstrate high agility, frequently switching between projects while maintaining a strong sense of ownership and prioritisation. Your leadership will be key to delivering AI projects that push the boundaries of what’s possible.
Day to day
- Manage and mentor a team of software engineers specializing in AI technologies.
- Ensure the team delivers high-quality, scalable AI solutions aligned with business goals.
- Drive AI Product Development - Oversee the development and delivery of AI-driven products and prototypes, leveraging platforms such as OpenAI and Databricks.
- Work with cross-functional teams to ensure successful integration of AI into digital products, enhancing user experiences.
- Ensure that solutions are robust, secure, observable, and scalable.
- Strategic AI Roadmap - Define and execute the AI engineering strategy in alignment with the company’s broader digital transformation objectives.
- Proactively identify opportunities to leverage Generative AI for business growth, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
- Regularly evaluate emerging AI technologies and tools to keep Virgin Atlantic at the forefront of AI innovation.
- Stakeholder Management & Communication - Collaborate with senior leadership, product teams, and other stakeholders to ensure AI initiatives meet business needs and strategic goals.
- Clearly communicate complex technical concepts and progress updates to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Build strong relationships across the organization to foster support for AI initiatives.
About you
The skills and experience we are looking for you to bring are:
- Demonstrable 8+ years of technical software engineering or development management experience, with a focus on AI or data-driven products.
- Proficiency in Python and/or JavaScript, with experience in delivering prototypes on LLM API platforms (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic, Databricks).
- Proven track record of leading complex, cross-functional technical projects with multiple stakeholders.
- Strong understanding of Generative AI technologies, and their applications in digital solutions, including multi-agent architectures and evaluations.
- Ability to thrive in dynamic, fast-paced environments with frequent context switching.
- Excellent problem-solving skills and a proactive attitude toward owning projects end-to-end.
- Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
Our recipe for leadership
At Virgin Atlantic, our leaders empower teams to thrive through collaboration, innovation, and excellence. Explore our Leadership Recipe and discover the 20 core ingredients that define what it means to lead with us, driving our mission to be the most loved travel company and achieve sustainable profit.
Be yourself
Our customers come from all walks of life and so do our colleagues. That’s why we’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and actively encourage applications from all backgrounds. At Virgin Atlantic, we believe everyone can take on the world - no matter your age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disabilities, religion, or beliefs. We celebrate difference and everything that makes our colleagues unique by upholding an inclusive environment in which we can all thrive. So that everyone at Virgin Atlantic can be themselves and know they belong. To make your journey with us accessible and individual to you, we encourage you to let us know if you’d like a little extra help with your application, or if you have any individual requirements at any stage along your recruitment journey. We are here to support you, so please reach out to our team, feeling confident that we’ve got your individual considerations covered.
Senior Manager – Software Engineering AI employer: Virgin holidays
Contact Detail:
Virgin holidays Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Manager – Software Engineering AI
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in Generative AI and how they can be applied in the travel industry. This knowledge will not only help you during interviews but also demonstrate your proactive approach to leveraging AI for business growth.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the AI and software engineering fields, especially those who have experience in the travel sector. Engaging with industry experts can provide valuable insights and potentially lead to referrals that could enhance your application.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific projects where you've successfully led AI initiatives or software development teams. Highlighting your hands-on experience with Python, JavaScript, and LLM API platforms will showcase your technical expertise and leadership capabilities.
✨Tip Number 4
Demonstrate your understanding of stakeholder management by preparing examples of how you've effectively communicated complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences. This skill is crucial for the role and will set you apart from other candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Manager – Software Engineering AI
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in software engineering, particularly with AI technologies. Emphasise your proficiency in Python and JavaScript, and any relevant projects you've led or contributed to, especially those involving Generative AI.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for AI and how it aligns with Virgin Atlantic's vision. Discuss your leadership style and how you have successfully managed teams and projects in the past, focusing on your ability to drive innovation and deliver results.
Showcase Relevant Projects: Include specific examples of AI-driven projects you've worked on, detailing your role, the technologies used, and the outcomes achieved. This will demonstrate your hands-on experience and understanding of the complexities involved in AI product development.
Highlight Stakeholder Management Skills: Since the role involves collaboration with various stakeholders, mention instances where you've effectively communicated complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences. This will showcase your ability to bridge the gap between technical and business needs.
How to prepare for a job interview at Virgin holidays
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
Be prepared to discuss your experience with Python and JavaScript in detail. Highlight specific projects where you've used these languages, especially in the context of AI or data-driven products. This will demonstrate your technical proficiency and relevance to the role.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As a Senior Manager, you'll need to show that you can lead and mentor a team effectively. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past, focusing on your approach to fostering collaboration and innovation within your team.
✨Understand Generative AI Applications
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends and technologies in Generative AI. Be ready to discuss how you've leveraged these technologies in previous roles and how they can be applied to enhance customer experiences at Virgin Atlantic.
✨Communicate Clearly with Stakeholders
Practice explaining complex technical concepts in simple terms. You'll need to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, so prepare to showcase your ability to bridge that gap during the interview.
